Archive for the ‘heavy metal’ Category
Life can be so complicated…
It really can. Usually the complications come by our own actions and choices. Over the years, I’ve taken some bad decisions, but who hasn’t? In all reality, 99% of my troubles have been self-imposed. So I’m not gonna bitch.
Let’s get to the real deal. Music. Metal. I live for it. Let’s pick an album to talk about. So, you own Spreading the Disease right? Seriously. You do. Yes? What?
So, it was 1986 and I had bad poofy Marc Storace blonde hair and acne. It was what it was, ya know? I also had my ’66 Nova that everyone ragged on until they needed a ride somewhere. Yeah, that’s right, bitches. Military Circle Mall here we come! In 16 minutes! No shit.
OK, back to my poofy hair…I mean 1986. I was out and about on a Saturday and popped in to see Drew at Unicorn Records. I was browsing his used $3.99 tapes and saw Spreading the Disease in there. I had read good stuff about ‘Thrax and decided to give it a shot.
HOLY FUCK.
Yeah, that’s right. That tape stayed in my car for a few years. It was my “on the way to school” driving tape. It was simply perfect except for Gung Ho, which I never really liked. Sure, Charlie’s feet are amazing on this one, but the song was just goofy. ‘Thrax always had a goofy side.
This album is just so awesome. I don’t know how to go into it any better. The riffs, the drums and Belladonna’s vocals are just stellar.
I am going to bed. If I actually put this on before bed, I’d never get to sleep. My adrenaline would be pumping.
"There’s no message here; you’re gonna screw up your needle, asshole."
“I have got a secret hidden behind my eyesA violation tragedy of violence hate and lies.Locked deep within a chamber, dark recesses of my mindA tribute to insanity, through hours days and time.”
K-Tel Presents Masters of Metal
Yes, believe it or not, K-Tel did do more than just disco compilations. I still have my original vinyl copy of this. I used to have the tape as well. I remember riding around in my ’66 Nova with the “custom” cassette player and usually had this tape with me. everything on here is great except for the KISS, Rush and Van Halen. I always skipped those tracks. If I was in my bedroom spinning the vinyl, well, it was a little more difficult to skip them so I’d just suffer through it.
I’m putting YouTube links to each of these songs. Enjoy this trip through my memory lane. Watch out for the curbs and potholes.
Side One
Trashed – Black Sabbath: To this day this is one of my favorite Black Sabbath songs. Gillan did a great job on this album and it’s too bad he only lasted for one. This video version is the same as on the compilation, a slightly shortened version than on the actual album.
Mean Streak – Y&T: Y&T is a band that I liked the “hits” they made but never really got into their albums. Listen closely to this one. It sounds like he says “She’s got a meanstreech.” Great song.
Breakin’ The Chains – Dokken: Yea! Dokken is in my blog again already! This video is a comical, as most vids were at the time. Pilson had just joined the band like a day or so before the video shoot and didn’t know the song so he’s just playing nothing. In case you didn’t know, Juan Croucier from Ratt recorded the bass on this album. Love this song. I think Don Dokken was already in his 40s. That dude is old.
Who’s Behind the Door – Zebra: This is such a badass song. I first heard it on the radio in 83. Saw them in 87 at the Boathouse in Norfolk (RIP) with Rough Cutt and Alcatrazz (sans Yngwie/Vai) and they were awesome. No one was there. $5! I recommend this band to everyone. Sure, there’s some Zeppelinesque stuff to them but they are really great.
Rainbow in the Dark – Dio: I think the only description you can give to the DIO stuff from this era is AWESOME. Look out!
Screaming in the Night – Krokus: Sadly, I had the same hair as the singer in the 80s except mine was blonde. Tough times. Great song. If you’re ever to own any Krokus, get this album: Headhunter.
Lick It Up – Kiss: GAY. The only cool thing about this vid is that we kids finally got to see what KISS looked like without their makeup. I’d been a KISS fan since 1975 and back in those days the rock mags would show pics of KISS around town hiding their faces. oooooo…mysterious. RIP Eric Carr.
Side Two
Street of Dreams – Rainbow: From the bent Out of Shape album. I adore this song. I’m one of the few who preferred Joe Lynn Turner to Dio in Rainbow.
Run to the Hills – Iron Maiden: Classic Maiden. Perfection.
Tom Sawyer – Rush: Ugh. I’ve hated this song since it first came out.
A World of Fantasy – Triumph: Rik Emmett is a god. This song is badass.
You Can’t Stop Rock an Roll – Twister Sister: FUCK YES. My favorite songs by Twisted Sister. When I finally got to see them a few years ago in Richmond, I think I hurt a few people when this song came on. They were warned.
Dancing in the Street – Van Halen: GAY. Even more gay than the KISS song. At least VH didn’t actually do a video for this but I posted one to prove my point.
You’re bloggen with Dokken!
Look! No ellipses!
Straight to the toooooooooooop! Tooth and Nail!
Hell yeah, that’s some quality headbanging when that song is on.
Wow, has it really been 24 years since this came out? That’s insane. This CD came on when I was driving home from work today. As you’ll notice from a lot of my reviews, I have a tendency to flashback. I wish I could blame it on drugs but I can’t. I remember buying the cassette of this at Roses department store in Suffolk, VA when I was 14. I think I heard the song Just Got Lucky on the radio and thought it was rokken. The title track comes in and just gets you all pumped up for some spandex jammin!
Now, if you’re a metal fan, and old school metal fan, you already know this album. I don’t need to break down its awesomeness. This was another of the great albums from 1984. What a year!
There are some funny stories to share about this one. I was over at Kelz’ house and we were jamming to this tape down in his den and his mom came in. Now, let me preface all this by saying both of us grew up in homes where our parents (or probably just our moms) thought that heavy metal was of the devil. They were probably right, but whatever. So anyway, she hears the chorus to “Bullets To Spare” and asks to see the tape cover so that she could read the lyrics. If I am not mistaken, the cover was this one, aka the alternate cover (weak):
My hand is steady
Tonight I’m ready for fun
I got my finger
It’s on the trigger
Another night on the run”
Good times. Fun album. I met Don on his solo tour back in 90 or 91. I was on the tour bus before the show and he came on, shook hands, signed a few things then sat down in front of everyone and shot up. Classy.
Free shipping! $9! Buy it.
They say that the night life, they say it ain’t no good life, but it’s my life…
Now, I’ve only been a Thin Lizzy fan for about 10 years or so; yes, I know it’s a tragic shame. I was just never exposed to much by them until about 1997. Besides their 2 US radio hits, Renegade was the only thing I had ever owned and I loved it, but still never had the urge to delve in deeper to their back catalogue.
Anyhoo, I come back to this album a lot. It’s very dark, sultry, bluesy (and I HATE the blues btw). When I hear this album I really feel like I am sitting in a smoke filled dive bar where no one in there is under the age of 45, no one speaks to each other, the bartender is reading the paper and everyone is just seeped into their own lonliness. Depressing, eh? It’s like a scene from the movie Barfly.
There’s a few upbeat tunes on here like It’s Only Money (Concrete Blonde did a great version of this), Sha-La-La and She Knows. But even those have an air of dank depression. Still In Love With You is the biggest “hit” on this one and became a staple of Lizzy’s live set.
This album is such a weird thing for me. It makes me sad and picks me up all at once. I think the combination of Phil’s soulful and sad lyrics mixed with the great production and guitar work just put my mind in a spin. It’s tough to explain.
Back in 1991/92 I dated this wonderful girl named Alicia. She was the coolest of the cool and in hindsight I probably should have married her; instead I broke her heart. She was very much into “my” music and she really loved this record. She used to call it “a great album to tap to.” She wasn’t talking about tap dancing! haha. So, I think it’s another reason why this album sort of brings me down; it reminds me of her and how great she was and how much of a shitbag I was to break up with her. For the record, I made amends with her (for my own good) a few years ago but dropped all contact, much to her dismay. Girls are funny. Why do they want to stay in touch with their exes?
Oh wait, this is about Thin Lizzy, yes? Right. Phil’s ballads have a way of striking deep emotions with me. It’s weird. I feel like I can relate to much of it. That’s generally the mark of a great songwriter, yeah? The ability to “hit close to home.”
here’s a lyric from “Dear Heart” that I love:
“He’d give his life, give his everything
To reach that goal and take that last and final fling.
But I guess it’s just another story in the greatest story
ever told
Dear heart, I wish that you could see that
Dear heart, you mean the world to me”
Here’s a vid for Still In Love With You:
Just go buy it already.
The Metal Files 
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